Food Insecurity in Higher Education: A Contemporary Review of Impacts and Explorations of Solutions

Abstract

Food insecurity is a global phenomenon which impacts a variety of social, economic, and life-stage groups. One such group affected by food insecurity is college students, who tend to experience food insecurity at a prevalence which exceeds the average of their local communities. The impacts of food insecurity in this population are multifaceted and have implications for their college experience and beyond. Food insecurity has been observed to have negative effects on college student academic performance, physical health, and mental health. This review explores the impacts of and solutions for food insecurity in this population globally, with particular emphasis on the United States, and specifically California.

A systematic review of the role of integrated farming and the participation of universities in ensuring food security: Malaysia’s effort

“…Food insecurity also affects society as a whole, impacting the future workforce and the availability of qualified talent. Therefore, addressing food insecurity among college students should be a priority for college administrators to meet the needs of their students, maintain their reputations, and meet missions of excellence (Loofbourrow and Scherr, 2023 ).…”

“…University participation in ensuring food security could also impact the economy. Research from Australian universities indicates a high prevalence of food insecurity among college students, ranging from 38% to 48% (Loofbourrow and Scherr, 2023 ). This can affect students’ finances, academic performance, and physical and mental health, ultimately influencing their future economic contributions.…”

Psychological Distress and Food Insecurity among International Students at a Hungarian University: A Post-Pandemic Survey

“…Food insecurity is a major issue that has been linked to a myriad of physical and mental health conditions among university students [ 13 ]. Numerous studies have reported that students facing food insecurity had higher odds of reporting unhealthy diets, altered sleep quality, stress, anxiety, depression, and poor academic performance relative to their food-secure counterparts [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Prevalence of and Contributors to Food Insecurity among College Athletes: A Scoping Review

“…Food insecurity often goes undetected among college students, particularly amidst the demands of academia and the transition to independent living. Studies reveal that, on average, approximately 30% of college students experience FI during their academic careers, a rate more than double the national average [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Further research across diverse institutions identifies additional groups at greater risk of FI, including those living in urban communities, students of color, Pell Grant recipients, athletes without meal plans, first-generation students, and those with pre-existing FI [8,9].…”